jesus political liberator

Question 1

Jesus came to reform world Matthew 10:34

Answer 1

Matthew 10:34 ‘i did not come to bring peace but a sword’

Question 2

Reza Azlan on why Jesus was a zealot

Answer 2

Mark 12:17 ‘give to caesar’s what is caesars and to god what is god’s’ - implying that the Romans have seized land that is not theirs and this should be reversed.

• one of his followers was called Judas Iscariot, Iscarii meant dagger-men which was a synonym for zealots.

Question 3

Jesus return to Jerusalem how this means he is liberator

Answer 3

he returned proclaiming ‘blessed is he who come in the name of the lord’ (directly opposing the Roman authorities.

they spread cloaks on the floor as the Iraelites did for Jehu when he became King.
they waved palm leaves in rememberance of the maccabees.

Question 4

critique that jesus was a political liberator

Answer 4

• ‘those who live by the sword, die by the sword’
• ‘pray for those who persecute you’ - Sermon on the Mount. + ‘blessed are the peacemakers’
  -his reaction to temptation in the desert implies that he is not trying to liberate Jews in the material world, but in the spiritual life with God

Question 5

significance of the titular INRI above Jesus’ head at the crucifixion

Answer 5

read that Jesus was King of the Jews - suggests he was percieved to be a political liberator and threat as the population was under the kingship of the Romans.
however, he never said he wore this title

Question 6

jesus as a challenge to religious authority

Answer 6

1. heals a bleeding woman (outcast for 12 years) Mark 24 ‘daughter your faith has healed you, go in peace and be freed’ = goes against purity laws and helps marginalised
2. the parable of the good samaritan Luke 10:25
   -samarians are outcasts in Jerusalem.
   a man is mugged on a road and beat violently.
   a priest saw him and crossed the street as he did not want to get unpure blood on his hands.
   a samaritan bandaged his wounds and brought him to an inn. =true love of thy neighbour, mercy and generousity.
3. ate with tax-collectors, prostitutes and thieves.

Question 7

gustav Gutierrez quote about jesus liberation

Answer 7

‘the liberation that Jesus offers is universal and integral; it attacks the foundation of injustice and exploitation’

Question 8

was jesus more than a political liberator? YES

Answer 8

-Sided with the poor, marginalised and sinners such as the Samaritans who were ‘religiously unpure’.
-challenged the hierarchical orthodoxy of the Pharisees and encouraged a more orthopraxical Christianity.
-zealot
-crucifixion was used for political criminals
-turned the tables over in the temple for the money people